A season of facing perhaps 2A’s hardest schedule has come to a close for the NCHS volleyball team. Last weekend’s Regional Tournament was in Glenrock, and four of the teams in the Wyopreps final coaches/media poll top five were involved. #1 Wright has been on a tear lately-looking to reclaim the state title Sundance captured in 2017, after winning three in a row from 2014-16. Conference foes #2 Pine Bluffs, #3 Southeast and #5 Glenrock all won their QF matches, while #4 Greybull has made shreds of the 2A West all season.

The Lady Tigers while short on depth and experience all season, had hopes of making a run to Casper for State. Wright had little interest in any upset bid as they defeated NCHS 25-13, 25-8 and 25-10 in Friday morning’s quarterfinals. The Lady Panthers also swept SE and PB en route to the regional crown.

That evening against the Lady Bulldogs, Lusk hung tough as long as possible with the defending champs but ran out of gas in the 25-22, 25-16 and 25-17 loss to end the Lady Tiger season at 10-15. The host Lady Herders pulled a mild upset over SE to claim third place and avoid a first round matchup with the Lady Buffs.

NCHS TEAM STATS: Serving 76/90, 84 pct; Kills- 25/115, 22 pct; Assists- 22; Digs- 93/170, 55 pct.

NCHS PLAYER STATS: Serving- Ashley Christianson 27/27; Lucy Ceaglske 13/14; Bryn Bruch 10/11. Kills- Taylor Gaukel 13; Anna Richardson 5. Assists- Christianson 19. Stuff blocks- Richardson 3. Digs- Gaukel 17; Christianson 17; Kianna Blackburn 16; Bruch 16; Richardson 14.